More than 10.86 Million Indians depend on rivers, wetlands, floodplains, estuaries, ponds and tanks for subsistence
and market-based fisheries. Though the absolute contribution of riverine fisheries may not be huge in economic
terms, it is a very crucial component in livelihood and nutritional security of the rural poor. With declining health of
rivers, riverine fisheries are declining and collapsing rapidly. This is indeed worrisome and needs to be ameliorated. SANDRP
analysed the status of capture fisheries in rivers, floodplains, wetlands, estuaries, lakes and associated ecosystems in India
and particularly looks at the devastating impacts of dams, barrages and hydrological modifications on this sector.